Brecht's Lover - Hardcover

'Built around an impeccably constructed narrative and sustained by highly elegant writing, this is a classically beatiful and powerfully intelligent novel' --Le Figaro

'Delicate, lightly structured, very subtle, a mature work' --Le Monde

'...a persuasive drama of hope and disappointment, and a powerful evocation of a vanished time and place' --Times Literary Supplement

Offering a fascinating insight into both the political and theatrical worlds of post-War East Berlin, 'Brecht's Lover' is a tender portrayal of one of the greatest playwrights of the twentieth century. The return of Bertolt Brecht to East Berlin in 1948 after years in exile is a cause of considerable excitement, not least for the theatrical world, and he is encouraged to find an outlet for his creative genius by establishing the Berliner Ensemble. But equally watchful of his every action are the secret police, anxious to learn exactly how far his Communist sympathies extend. Recruiting Maria Eich, Brecht's young lover, into their service, they unleash an influence over the playwright that will shape even his work.